Vegetarian Green Tea Citrus Agua Fresca
This refreshing drink lands somewhere between a delicate iced tea and a bright, citrus-forward agua fresca — and the combination is genuinely hard to put down. Freshly squeezed orange and lime juice bring a sunny, tangy backbone, while gently steeped green tea adds a subtle earthiness that keeps things interesting without overpowering the fruit. Maple syrup does the sweetening here, dissolving seamlessly into the warm tea so every sip is smooth and balanced rather than cloying. A small pinch of salt in the citrus blend is the quiet secret weapon — it rounds out the flavors in a way that makes the whole drink taste more alive. The technique of not squeezing the tea bags is a small but meaningful detail that keeps bitterness out of the picture entirely. Serve it over ice with a few mint sprigs and a citrus wheel, and it looks like something you'd pay too much for at a brunch spot. It's the kind of drink that works equally well at a backyard gathering or as a midweek treat when you want something a little more special than plain water.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the green tea base
- 4 cups water
- 4 green tea bags
- 3 tbsp maple syrup, plus more to taste
For the citrus blend
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice (from about 2 medium oranges)
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
- 2 cups cold water
- ¼ tsp fine salt
For serving
- 1 cup ice cubes, for serving
- 4 thin orange or lime slices, for garnish (optional)
- 4 fresh mint sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from the heat. Add the green tea bags and steep for 3 minutes, until the tea is a clear, pale gold-green color. Remove and discard the bags — do not squeeze them, as this releases bitter tannins.
- 2
Stir the maple syrup into the hot tea until fully dissolved. Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes, then refrigerate until cold, at least 10 minutes.
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